Bid approved for Uniontown storm shelter, bids to be taken for pond

The Uniontown City Council approved a partial bid for improvements around the storm shelter project at its regular monthly meeting held on Tuesday evening.

The council approved $18,240 to be used for a concrete parking slab, and a concrete curb and gutter for the island near the new city storm shelter.

In July 2015, the council received notice of being awarded a Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The grant was for $110,000, and provided the financing for the storm shelter project.

The council also noted that the storm shelter was scheduled to arrive Thursday, July 21.

The city pond project was also on the agenda Tuesday evening. The council approved a floating dock, ADA-compliant ramp to the dock, and a concrete slew which will run up to Maple Road.

The improvements will be possible through a $2,500 donation from the Bourbon County commission, a $2,500 donation from Uniontown Ruritan, and a Community Fisheries Assistance Program grant through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The council approved the opening of bids for the project pending a pre-bid conference.

In other business, the council also approved the purchase of a large dog kennel and a large animal snare to be utilized by Dave Wehry, part-time city maintenance worker and city animal control officer. Wehry said he just wanted to be prepared.

"We had a small kennel donated, and it's been great for cats, but the time will come when we need a larger kennel for bigger dogs or other wild animals," Wehry said.

Uniontown City Clerk Sally Johnson also spoke to the council about the registering of dogs.

"A lot of people think this is just a money-maker for the city, but that isn't it at all," Johnson said. "It's also a protection for the owner. And, if a dog bites a kid, we aren't running around trying to find out who it belongs to," she added.